Sisodia’s name on Sikhya Kranti plaque draws Opposition criticism

The Opposition on Monday targeted the ruling Aam Aadmi Party after its Delhi leader Manish Sisodia’s name appeared on a plaque unveiled by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann while launching the state government’s Sikhya Kranti drive at a Nawanshar school.

The event held at the School of Eminence in Nawanshar was attended by Sisodia, who is AAP’s Punjab affairs incharge.

The inaugural plaques at all other schools bore the name of the CM first, followed by the name of the education minister, and then that of the local MLA inaugurating the project.

The plaque at the School of Eminence bore the names of the CM and Manish Sisodia.

Senior Congress leader Pargat Singh termed the move “totally unconstitutional”. “The CM is doing things in official capacity. But skipping the name of the requisite local functionary or a minister and mentioning the name of Sisodia has no meaning. If they are so keen on (promoting) Sisodia, he should rather be made to contest an election,” he said.

“The so-called Sikhiya Kranti is merely an eyewash. Funds for the Sarv Shiksha Abhiyan works come from the Centre. In many schools, plaques were put up for works already completed just to claim credit," he added.

Insignificant projects being inaugurated: Bajwa

The Leader of the Opposition in the Punjab Assembly, Partap Singh Bajwa, dismissed the AAP government initiative as a mere ploy to gain publicity.

“Instead of improving the schools’ basic infrastructure and recruiting teachers and other staff, the AAP government has embarked on an inauguration spree. As per a news report, orders have been issued to install the inauguration plaques for even insignificant works,” he said. “Each work will have a separate plaque, as per the written order to the teachers,” Bajwa claimed.

The Congress leader said the total cost of plaques and other arrangements for the inauguration events was expected to be around Rs 20.93 crore. “This includes Rs 8.43 crore for the inauguration programmes and Rs 12.50 crore for the inaugural plaques. Is this what their much-hyped education model was all about?” he said.

Bajwa also alleged that the AAP government had started “misusing teachers” as its propaganda machinery.

“Punjab Education Minister Harjot Singh Bains has even directed school principals, headmasters and teachers to create X accounts and post photos and other updates with the hashtag #PunjabSikhyaKranti. Are the teachers of the government-run schools supposed to teach or spread AAP’s agenda?” he asked.

Attempt to promote Sisodia, Kejriwal: BJP

BJP national general secretary Tarun Chugh also condemned the “blatant misuse” of public funds to “promote” Sisodia and AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal. Chugh said if media reports were to be believed, a “deeply troubling scandal was unfolding”, with over Rs 20 crore being spent on inauguration plaques “featuring Kejriwal and Sisodia” for “already completed or minor renovation works”.

“It is shocking and shameful that instead of focusing on meaningful improvements to Punjab’s crumbling education infrastructure, the AAP government is indulging in self-glorification and publicity stunts,” he said.

“Installing over 25,000 plaques — sometimes four in a single school — bearing the names of the Chief Minister, Education Minister, and AAP MLAs, is nothing but an exercise in political vanity funded by taxpayer money,” the BJP leader claimed.

He said spending Rs 5,000 per plaque — the money that could have been used for teaching aids or basic school infrastructure — is a gross misuse of public resources.

“Teachers and students have rightly questioned the logic and necessity of such expenditures when essential facilities are still lacking,” the BJP leader added.

BJP leader Manoranjan Kalia too slammed the government over it. “As far as Sisodia is concerned, isn’t he satisfied with his tenure as the deputy CM of Delhi that now his names have to be on plaques in Punjab too?” he said.

Punjab